ScamSmart campaign For partners & stakeholders 2017 1 - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Unrestricted ScamSmart campaign For partners & stakeholders 2017 1

Unrestricted Background What is investment fraud? Fraudsters use high pressure • selling techniques to sell overvalued or non existent investments in products including shares, foreign exchange, commodities and overseas schemes, such as hotel developments. Fraudsters may be seeking to • capitalise on opportunities arising from recent pension reforms. 2

Unrestricted Background • Thousands of people fall victim to investment fraud each year. In 2015/16, the average loss to investment fraud was over £32,000 *. • The FCA takes enforcement action against those engaging in unauthorised business, publishes public warnings about unauthorised firms and seeks to educate consumers to the risks of investment fraud through ScamSmart. the ScamSmart campaign. *Action Fraud 3

Unrestricted Protecting the most vulnerable On average, victims: Are male • Aged 55+ • ABC1 • Already own • investments Consider • themselves financially savvy 4

Unrestricted ScamSmart campaign objectives 1. Increase awareness of the 2. Increase intention to tactics used by fraudsters so check the FCA Warning List potential victims are better before investing and drive able to spot a fraud attempt use of the Warning List 5

Unrestricted Campaign key messages You could be at risk of investment fraud • Investment scammers will use flattery, emotional • manipulation and time pressure to take your hard-earned money Be a ScamSmart investor: • - Reject unsolicited investment opportunities - Before investing, check the FCA Warning List - Seek impartial advice 6

Unrestricted Key insights informing campaign Key insight Creative implication Scammers are seen Use recognisably intelligent Video case • as unsophisticated individuals to show just how studies sophisticated scammers and their victims as techniques are gullible Recreate the experience of You can’t deny you’re being scammed to some • radio ads and vulnerable when you’ve degree to demonstrate how ‘scammer’ just been proved to be even savvy people can be video so drawn in Creative aims to demonstrate that even the most savvy investors like you can be scammed due to sophisticated techniques 7

Unrestricted Campaign Advertising Video case studies Print, radio and online video ads demonstrating fraudster tactics Display ads and paid search driving users to the Warning List - Watch Derek’s Story: https://www.fca.org.uk/media/scamsmart-derek-story - Beware the investment cold call video: http://scamsmart.fca.org.uk/case-studies/scamsmart- 8 beware-the-investment-cold-call

Unrestricted Campaign channels and user journey Warning list – online tool ScamSmart hub includes: that warns users of the risks - warning signs of a scam PR associated with an investment - where to seek impartial and checks a list of firms we advice know are operating without our authorisation. Radio ads Online video ads Partnerships Display ads Paid for search 9

Unrestricted Over 260 pieces of media coverage generated in 16/17 55 print pieces 147 online pieces 58 radio & 1 TV interview 10

Unrestricted Campaign has been well supported by partners Fraud prevention Banks & financial services Community / partners support voluntary organisations 11

Unrestricted Social media We have a range of video, photo and infographic assets to share From 2016 -2017: We’ve published 75+ #ScamSmart tweets • Our tweets amassed 11,000 engagements • We have 1,931 followers of the ScamSmart Facebook page. • 107 Facebook posts gained 28,404 engagements • Share our content on your social media channels 12

Unrestricted Over 26,000 checks of the Warning List in 2016/17, up 89% on 2015/16 In 2016/17: 319,594 people • visited the ScamSmart hub, up 238 % on 2015/16 26,091 users • checked an investment on the Warning List, up 89% on 2015/16 13

Unrestricted How to avoid investment fraud Staff briefing / advice for customers 14

Unrestricted How to avoid investment and pension scams Investment and pension scams are often sophisticated and • difficult to spot Spot the warning signs - Fraudsters will often: • contact you out of the blue o apply pressure to invest quickly o downplay the risks to your money o promise tempting returns that sound too good to be true o say that they’re only making the offer available to you or o even ask you to not tell anyone else about it Be a ScamSmart investor 15

Unrestricted How to avoid investment and pension scams Reject unexpected offers - Scammers usually cold call, but • contact can also come by email, post, word of mouth or at a seminar. If you’ve been offered an investment out of the blue, chances are it’s a high risk investment or a scam. Check the FCA Warning List - Use the FCA Warning List to • check the risks of a potential investment – you can also search to see if the firm is known to be operating without our authorisation. To check visit www.fca.org.uk/scamsmart Get impartial advice - Get impartial advice before investing – • don’t use an adviser from the firm that contacted you. Be a ScamSmart investor 16

Unrestricted How to avoid investment and pension scams Check if a firm is FCA-authorised – For regulated products • Check our Financial Services Register to see if a firm or individual is authorised or registered with the FCA. Check it’s not a ‘clone firm’ - A common scam is to pretend • to be a genuine firm (called a ‘clone firm’). Always use the contact details on our Register, not the details the firm gives you. If you’re suspicious, report it - report the firm or scam to • us by contacting our Consumer Helpline on 0800 111 6768 or using our reporting form on our website. Be wary of future scams - If you’ve already invested in a • scam, fraudsters are likely to target you again or sell your details to other criminals. Be a ScamSmart investor 17

Unrestricted Get involved • Promote ScamSmart through your channels – social media, website, events, blogs, newsletters etc. We can supply all necessary content. • Assets available include - briefing slides, editorial copy, video case studies, leaflets, posters, social media posts and infographics. 18

Unrestricted Find out more • ScamSmart website : www.fca.org.uk/scamsmart • Like us on Facebook : www.facebook.com/fcascamsmart • Email : Alexa Gooder alexa.gooder@fuseint.com or call 07802 904834 19